Tire deflation indicator



p 1949- P. SIEVER TIRE DEFLATION INDICATOR Filed Dec. 5, 1946 Jaye/Max Paw/ Jz'eyer 5y m Afiwwaym W Y Patented Sept. 6, 1949 TIRE DEFLATION INDICATOR Paul Siever, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Tire- Larm 00., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application December 5, 1946, Serial No. 714,285

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a deflation indicator for pneumatic tires and has for its primary object the provision of such a device which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install, accurate in performance, and durable.

Another object of my invention is the provision of such a structure in which the tire deflation indicator may be accurately adjusted to various sized tires to produce an audible signal at any desired reduction in air pressure within the tire.

The above and numerous other objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claim, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a rim-equipped pneumatic tire showing the preferred embodiment of my novel device in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view corresponding somewhat to Fig. 1, but taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in perspective of an adjustin screw used in the structure of Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing modifications in structure;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 6 showing a simplified form of my device.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral I indicates a pneumatic tire which is mounted on a rim 2 having spaced out-turned tire bead engaging flanges 3. The numeral 4 indicates an elongated wheel balancing weight which is held in frictional engagement with the outer surface of the flange 3 by a hooklike anchoring bracket 5, the extreme inner end 6 of which is adapted to be inserted between the flange 3 and the head of the tire I.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the anchoring bracket 5 is provided with an anchoring lip 'l which projects radially outwardly of the rim 2 in the direction of the side wall of the tire I. Preferably, and as shown, anchoring bracket 5 is in the nature of a metal clip adapted to be slipped over the edge of the rim flange 3, and the anchoring lip I is formed integrally therewith. It is optional in this structure whether the wheel balancing weight 4 be utilized, but, in the event that it is, it is preferably cast around an extended outer portion 8 of the anchoring bracket 5. As shown, particularly in Fig. 3, the anchoring lip "I at its free end is bent outwardly as indicated at 9 and is provided with a transverse slot or opening Ill to receive a sound-producing tongue I I. Sound-producing tongue II is of a type in common use in noise-making novelties, often referred to as clickers, and is made up of an elongated flat strip of spring steel having a dimple or depression I2 formed in its intermediate portion. The free end of the sound-producing tongue is preferably, and as shown, provided with a sound resonating cup I3, the hood-like open end I4 of which immediately overlies the depression I2.

As will be observed, the free end of the soundproducing tongue II is adapted to press against the side wall of the tire I. For the purpose of forcing the free end of the sound-producing tongue into contact with the side wall of the tire I, so as to produce a clicking noise under the desired degree of deflation of the tire, I provide an adjustment screw I5 which extends through the sound-producing tongue II adjacent its anchored end and has threaded engagement with a boss or nut I6 secured to the tongue II by soldering or the like. The inner end of adjustment screw I5 is adapted to be seated in a depression I! in the anchoring lip I, which preferably, and as shown, is in the nature of an extended groove. To prevent accidental rotation of the adjustment screw I5, but to permit manual adjustment thereof, I preferably flatten the end of the screw I5 as at I8.

In Figs. 5 and 6, I have shown a modified form of my construction. As there shown, soundproducing tongue II' has an inturned end I9 which is adapted to be seated in a recess or groove 20 located either in the weight 4' or in the anchoring bracket 5'. Lock washer equipped anchoring screw I5 extends through the intermediate portion of sound-producing tongue II and the anchoring lip I and has screw threaded engagement with the latter.

With either of the structures illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, it is possible to attain precisely the desired degree of tension of the free end of the sound-producing tongues II or II against the side wall of the tire I, in order that a clickin sound be produced thereby when the pre-determined extent of deflation of the tire is reached, and upon rotation of the tire with its consequent bulging of the side wall.

In the simplified structure illustrated in Fig. 7, the inner end of sound-producing tongue II" is pneumatic tire efiuiiipod rim on said wheei, an

anchoring bracket secured to the tire bead engaging flange of said rim, an anchoring lip pro; jecting outwardly from said anchoring bracket in a direction radially of said rimf' a slotadja cent the free end of said anchoring iip, a seundproducing tongue extending ti inaugi nmaid slot with one end overlying the anchoring lip and with '4 its free end in contact with the side waii of said tire, a recess in said anchoring lip, and an adjusting screw carried by said sound-producing tongue and having its inner end seated in said recess. PAUL SIEVER.

REFERENCES CITED The foiiogring neferei a cgs are 011 record in the file of this patent: L

UNITED STATES PATENTS binning: Name Date 1,469,360 Clarke Mar. 14, 1922 1,125,519 M11012; Oct. 1, 1929 2,273,413 meaimch Feb. 17, 1942 

